Invalid carrier or bag



April 30, 1929. w. H. BLAKE 1,711,167

INVALID CARRIER OR BAG Filed Oct. 4. 1926 Patented Apr. 30, 1929.v

WARREN HQBLAKE, or Los ANGELES, Clnziro:aiv1a.v

INVALID CARRIER R BAG.

Application ined october 4, 192e.` semi No. 139,369.

'I'his invention relates to an invalid carrier or bag which is intendedto be used by a iireman in effecting the rescue of persons from burningbuildings and particularly hospitals.

The general object of .this invention isy to provide a device of thisnature which is so constructed that it can be quickly applied as anenvelope or bag to .carry an invalid with safety. ril`he device isconstructed in such a way that it can be handled on a line or ropesuspended from above to enable the carrier with the body in it to belowered to the ground through a window, and then carried as a stretcher.

One of the objects of the invention is to' provide a device of thislrind which is constructed so as to enable it to be appliedto bodies ofdifferent size; also to provide fast-v ening means which can be quicklyput in place when securing the body in the bag.

A further object of the invention isto provide an improved constructionfor securing av sling to the upper end of the bag. Y

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists of the novel parts and combination of parts to bedescribed hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an efficientinvalid carrier or bag.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the followingspecification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawing: v

Figure l is a front elevation of the bag or carrier and representing thesame folded as it should be when a body is being carried within it.

Figure 2 is a view showing the bag lying flat and partially folded.

Figure 3 is a section taken through the upper edge of the bag andparticularly illustrating the means for securing the sling to the upperedge of the bag.

In practicing my invention, I provide an elongated sheet 1 ofsubstantially rectangular form and this sheet is provided at one sidewith an integral flap 2 which constitutes the inner flap when the sheetis folded intov the bag form. Opposite this iiap 2, the sheet isprovided with an outer flap 3 which may be considered as having its rootor point of connection with the sheet 1 along the dotted line 4.

over a body to be surrounded by the bag, I provide a plurality of rings5 which are at tached along a line near one edge of the sheet 1 and nearthe-root of the flap 3. On the inner flap 2, opposite these rings, Iprovide straps 6. These straps are adapted -to be passed through therings 5 so as to form loops to hold the flap 2 close against thebody'which is to be enveloped. Each strap is provided with a hoolr 7 andin line with each strap 6, I provide a plurality of rings 8 on the flap2.l These rings are preferably attached to each strap 6 by means of an`eyrter'ision 6a `of each .strap which is sewed or otherwise fastenedsecurely to the flap. These rings 8 are different distances from theedge 9 of the inner flap 2 and this enables vthe tightness lof the flap2 against the body to be adjusted. For eX- ample, if the body is that ofa child, the hook 7 rwould be secured to the ring 8 which is furthest tothe left as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. After looping allthe straps -6 through the rings 5 and attaching their hooks to theproper rings, the outer flap 3 is then folded over the inner flap. Onthe edge of this flap 3,1io'olrs 10 are provided and these hoolrs are inline with rings 11 secured on the Hap 2 at a distance from the edge 9.I` provide means at the lower end of the device to support the feet ofthe body which is to be carried; this means may be in the form of a flapor tongue 12. After securing the flaps 2 and 3 over the body byattaching the hoolrs 10 to the rings 11, a flap or tongue 12, which eX-tends down from the lower edge of the sheet 1, is then folded up in linewith the flaps and preferably on the outer side of the flaps, and thistongue is secured to one of the flaps near the upper edge of the sheet.For this purpose, the tongue 12 maybe provided with a strap 18 which maybe secured in a buckle 141L (see Figure 1). In this way, the device isfolded up into a bag 15 or envelope around the body.

The upper edge 16 of the bag is provided with a sling 17 to enable it tobe attached to a hook on a rope. This rope can be arranged in anysuitable manner to enable the bag with the body in it to be lowered outof a window. The sling may be constructed in any suitable manner butpreferablycomprises a D ring 18 from which cords 19 extend downwardly,said cords being doubled and terminating at their lower ends in loops 20which are passed outwardly through eyes or openings 21 near the upperedge of the bag (see Figure 3). These loops 2O are all locked in placeby a cord 22 which extends throughthein and passes along the entireupper edge of the bag.

It will be evident that in using this device,

the straps 6 may be very quickly passedl through the rings 5 and thehooks 7 applied to the proper rings 8 to secure the inner flap in place.Likewise, the hooks 10 enable the outer flap 3 to be very quickly foldedover and secured to the rings ll. rlhe strap i8 may be secured withoutdelay in the buckle 14. ln this way, the sheet can be very quicklyapplied to a body and wrapped around it so as to form a bag. The lowerportion of the tongue l2 forms the bottom 23 for the bag so as to keepthe body in it while it is being lowered from a window.

I prefer to construct the device so that it can be carried like astretcher in a horizontal position with a body within the sheet. Forthis purpose, l provide stif'feners along the side edges of the sheet.rllhese stiifeners are in the form of bars 23 and these bars 23 arepreferably made in two sections so that there is a gap formed at thePoint 24: between the sections of the bar which lie on the saine side ofthe device.

Handles are provided for carrying the device, and these handles arepreferably formed by leaving a portion 25 of each bar exposed, theremainder of the bar being enveloped in a sleeve 26 of fabric whichextends along each side of the device. These sleeves should be placed atthe unction of the flaps 2 and 3 with the body of the sheet. By formingthe bars 23 in sections as described, they do not interfere with foldingup the sheet into a compact package or pack.

It will be evident that this invalid carrier or bag enables a body to beenveloped and securely fastened within a sheet to enable it to becarried as a bag when being elevated or lowered by means of the sling17, and it also enables the device to be used as a stretcher if it isnecessary to carry the body in a horizontal position, for example, inplacing it in an ambulance.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described hereinis only one of the many embodiments this invent-ion mayv take, and I donot wish to be limited in the practice of the invention, nor in theclaims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

Vhat I claim is:

l. A device of the kind described having a sheet with an inner flap onAone side and an outer flap on the opposite side, said flaps constructedto fold over a body to be covered by the sheet, means for securing theinner flap to the sheet adjacent the root of the outer flap, means forsecuring the outer flap near its edge to the outer side of the innerflap, a tongue carried by the lower end of the sheet so as to fold up inline with the flaps and having means for securing the saine near itsupper edge to the outer flap, so as to hold the feet of the body andretain the bodys weight on the tongue and a sling secured to the upperend of the sheet opposite the rsaid tongue for supporting the bodycarried therein.

2. A device of the kind described having a sheet with an inner iiap onone side and an outer fiap on the opposite side, said flaps constructedto fold over a body to be covered by the sheet, aplurality of ringsattached to the inner flap at points removed from the edge of the salue,a plurality of straps carried by the edge of the inner flap opposite therings, respectively, a. plurality of rings carried by the sheet near theroot of the outer flap and adapted to have the said straps passedthrough the same when the inner flap is folded over a body surrounded bythe said sheet, said straps having hooks for securing the ends of thesaine to the first named rings, means for securing the outer flap nearits edge to the outer side of the inner flap, a tongue carried by thelower end of the sheet so as to fold up in line with the flaps andhaving means for securing the saine near its upper edge to one of saidflaps, and a sling secured to the upper end of the sheet for supportinga body l.arried therein.

3. A device of the kind described having a sheet with an inner iiap onone side and an y outer fiap on the opposite side, said flapsconstructed to fold over a body to be covered by the sheet, a pluralityof rings attached to one side of the sheet near the root of the outerflap, a strap corresponding to each ring attached to the inner iiap andadapted to be passed in a loop through its corresponding ring, saidstraps having hooks on their ends, respectively, said inner Hap having aplurality of rings in line with the said straps to be engaged by thesaid hooks when the straps have been looped through the first namedrings, means for securing the outer flap near its edge to the outer sideof the inner flap, a tongue carried by the lower end of the slieet so asto fold up in line with the flaps, and having mea-ns for securing thesaine near its upper edge to one of said flaps, and a sling secured tothe upper end of the sheet for supporting a body carried therein.

4;. A device of the kind described having a sheet with an inner flap onone side and an outer flap on the opposite side, said flaps constructedto fold over a body to be covered by the sheet, a plurality of ringsattached substantially in a row on the sheet near the root of the outerflap, a strap corresponding to each ring of the said row attached to theinner flap in line with its corresponding ring, a plurality of ringscarried by said straps on the inneiI flap, each strap having a hook onits end and constructed to be passed through the first named rings,respectively, to form loops securing the inner flap in position, saidhooks enabling the ends of the straps to be Vir secured to any one ofthe last named rings, a plurality of hooks carried by the outer Hap,rings carried by the inner flap to engage the last named hooks to holdthe outer flap folded over the inner flap, a tongue carried by the lowerend of the sheet so as to fold up in line with the flaps and havingmeans for securing the same near its upper edge to the outer flap, and asling secured to the upper end of the sheet for supporting a bodycarried therein.

5. A device of the lrind described having a sheet with an inner iiap onone side and an outer flap on the opposite side, said flaps constructedto fold over a body covered bythe sheet, a plurality of rings attachedsubstantially in a row on the sheet near the root of the outer flap, astrap corresponding to each ring of the said row attached to the inneriiap in line with its corresponding ring, a plurality of rings carriedby each strap on the inner flap, each strap having a hook on its end andconstructed to be passed through the iirst named rings, respectively, toform a loop securing the inner flap in position, said hooks enabling theends of the straps to be secured to any one of the last named rings, aplurality of hooks carried` by the outer flap, rings carried by theinner flap to engage the last named hooks to hold the outer flap foldedover the inner flap, a tongue carried by the lower end of the sheet soas to fold up in line with the flaps and having means for securing thesame near its upper edge to the outer Hap, the upper edge of said sheethaving a plurality of eyes, a ring with a plurality of cords attachedJthereto with loops extending through the said eyes, and a locking `cordextending through the loops of the cords and passingaround the upperedge of the sheet to lock the cords to the same.

6. A device of the lkind described having a sheet with an inner flap onone side and an outer flap on the opposite side, said flaps constructedto fold over a body to be covered by the sheet, means for securing theinner flap to the sheet adjacent the root of the outer flap, means forsecuring the outer flap near its edge to the outer side of the innerflap, a tongue carried by the lower end of the sheet so as to fold up inline with the flaps and having means for securing the same near itsupper edge to the outer flap, the upper edge of the sheet having aplurality of eyes therein, a sling having cords with loops extendingthrough the said eyes, respectively, and a looking cord passing throughthe said loops and along theedge of the sheet. l

7 A device of the kind described having a sheet with oppositely disposedflaps constructed to fold across a body to be conveyed by the sheet,means for securing the flaps, a tongue carried by the lower end of thesheet so as to fold up in line with the iiaps and havingvineans forsecuring the same, a sling secured to the upper end of the sheet forsupporting a body carried therein, in a substantially vertical position,and stiffeners carried on opposite sides of the sheet with handlesenabling the device to be carried as a stretcher in a horizontalposition, when a body is en-k veloped by the flaps.

8. A device of the kind described having a sheet with oppositelydisposed aps constructed to fold across a body to be conveyed by thesheet, means for securing the iiaps, a tongue carried by the lower endof the sheet so as tovfold up in line with the iaps and having means forsecuring the same, a sling secured to the upper end of the sheet forsupporting a body carried therein, in a substantially vertical positionand stiifeners in the form of bars secured along opposite sides of thesheet near the `junction of the body of the sheet with the said flaps,said bars having portions operating as handles to enable the device' tobe carried as a stretcher in a horizon- Jlal position, when a body isenveloped by the aps.

9. A device of the kind described having a sheet with a sling at one endand having oppositely disposed flaps constructed to fold across a bodyto be conveyed by the sheet, and means at the other and lowei` end ofthe sheet forming a pocket to engage the feet of the body .to supportthe body in the sheet when supported by the sling whereby the body isretained within the folded sheet.

- Signed atLos Angeles, California, this 25 day of Sept., 1926.

WARREN H. BLAKE.

